Software Orientation• Use tabs to insert blank spaces before or within text and

paragraphs.• You will use the Tabs dialog box (shown below) to set and

clear tabs.• Use this figure as a reference throughout the remainder of

this lesson as well as the rest of the book.

Setting Tabs on the Ruler• By default, left-aligned tab stops are set every half-inch on

the ruler.• To set a tab at a different position on the ruler, you can click

the tab selector at the left end of the ruler, then position the insertion point on the ruler and click. A ScreenTip will appear showing the type of tabs at the tab selector.

• After tabs are set, press the Tab key; the insertion point will stop at the position set. To move a tab stop to a different position on the ruler, click and drag it left or right to a new position.

• In the following exercise, you learn to set tabs on Word’s ruler.

Setting Tabs on the Ruler• The following table lists the types of tabs available in Word

and their descriptions. To view tabs on the ruler, place your insertion point over the text.

Step-by-Step: Set Tabs on the Ruler• OPEN perdiem from the data files for this

lesson.1. On the Home tab in the Paragraph group, click

the Show/Hide (¶) button to show nonprinting characters.

2. Place the insertion point on the line below the Meals & Incidentals Breakdown heading.

3. Click the tab selector at the left of the ruler until theCenter tab appears.

• A ScreenTip will appear when you place your pointer over the tab selector. The tab selector and horizontal ruler are shown in Figure 4-26, displaying the different types of tabs.

Step-by-Step: Set Tabs on the Ruler• A ScreenTip will appear when you place your

pointer over the tab selector. The tab selector and horizontal ruler are shown in the figure below, displaying the different types of tabs.

Step-by-Step: Set Tabs on the Ruler4. Click the ruler at the 2.5-inch mark to set a

Center tab.5. Click the ruler at the 4-inch mark to set a

Center tab.6. Press Tab and key Chicago.7. Press Tab and key New York.8. Select the list of words starting with Breakfast

and ending with Totals.9. Click the tab selector until the Right tab

appears.10.Click the ruler at the 1-inch mark to set a Right

tab.

Step-by-Step: Set Tabs on the Ruler11.Deselect and place the insertion point in front of

each word and press Tab to align it at the Right tab. Your document should look similar to the one shown here.

12.SAVE the document ashandbook_perdiem in the lesson folder on your USB flash drive.

Using the Tabs Dialog Box• The Tabs dialog box is useful for setting tabs at precise

locations on the ruler, clearing all tabs, and setting tab leaders.

• Tab leaders are symbols such as dotted, dashed, or solid lines that fill the space before a tab.

• In the following exercise, you practice setting tabs and leaders using the Tabs dialog box.

Step-by-Step: Set Tabs and Leaders• USE the document that is open from the previous

exercise.1. Select the list of words starting with Breakfast

and continuing to the end of the document.2. On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click

the drop-down arrow to launch the Paragraph dialog box.

3. Click the Tabs button on the bottom left of the Paragraph dialog box to display the Tabs dialog box (shown in the figure on the next slide).

Step-by-Step: Set Tabs and Leaders4. In the Tab stop position

box, key 2.6. In the Alignment section, Rightis already selected. In the Leader section, select2, then click Set. Aftersetting individuals tabs, you must click Set to positionthe tab setting.

5. In the Tab stop position box,key 4.1. In the Alignment section, Right is already selected. In the Leader section, select 2, then click Set. Setting a leader provides a guide to the next tab setting.

Step-by-Step: Set Tabs and Leaders6. Click OK.7. Place the insertion point after Breakfast and press

Tab.8. Key $10 and

press Tab.9. Key $12.

Repeat this for each line, keying the numbers shown in this figure.

10.SAVE the document as handbook_perdieum_1 in the lesson folder on your USB flash drive.

Step-by-Step: Move Tabs• USE the document that is open from the previous

exercise.1. Select the block of text beginning with Breakfast .

. . and ending with . . . $62. Include the non-printing character (¶).

2. Position the mouse pointer at 4.1” on the ruler until you see the Right Tab ScreenTip.

3. Press and hold the left mouse button and drag on the ruler to 5.1.” Release the left mouse button. Notice the Right Tab setting for the five lines is positioned at 5.1” on the ruler.

4. Select New York. Drag the center tab setting and position it at 5” on the ruler.

5. SAVE the document as handbook_perdiem_2 in the lesson folder on your USB flash drive.

Clearing Tabs• Tabs can be removed by dragging, or you can use the Tabs

dialog box to clear one or all tabs. • To remove a tab stop from the ruler, click and drag it off the

ruler. When you release the mouse button, the tab stop disappears.

• Or, open the Tabs dialog box, where you can choose to clear one tab or all tabs.

• In the following exercise, you practice clearing tabs from your Word document.

Step-by-Step: Clear Tabs• USE the document that is open from the previous

exercise.1. Place the insertion point on the last line (Totals).2. Move your mouse pointer to the tab stop at 5.1”

on the ruler.3. Press and hold the mouse button and drag it off

the ruler. Release the mouse button to remove the tab stop.

4. On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click the drop-down arrow to launch the Paragraph dialog box.

5. Click the Tabs button on the bottom left of the dialog box to display the Tabs dialog box.

6. In the Tab stop position list, click 2.6”, then click Clear to clear that tab.

Step-by-Step: Clear Tabs7. Click the Clear All button to clear all tabs on

that line.8. Click OK to close the Tabs dialog box.9. Select all the text on the Totals line and press

the Delete button to delete it.10.SAVE the document with the same file name,

then CLOSE the file..

Setting Tab Stops• Tab stops can be reset from the default of 0.5 inch. • Each time you press the tab key, the tab moves half an inch

on the ruler. Thus, by pressing the tab key twice, for example, the insertion point moves to one inch on the ruler.

• In the following exercise, you practice setting tab stops.

Step-by-Step: Set Tab Stops1. OPEN a new blank document. Click the File tab,

and select New. Choose Blank Document, and then Create to open a new blank document.

2. Press the Tab key once.3. Press the Tab key two more times; the insertion

point is now positioned at 1½ inches on the ruler.4. Press the Tab key three times; the insertion point

moves to the 3-inch mark on the ruler. Press Enter.

5. On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click the dialog box launcher.

6. In the Paragraph dialog box, click the Tabs button to open the Tabs dialog box.

Step-by-Step: Set Tab Stops7. Click the up arrow below Default Tab Stops

until it stops at 1 inch. Click OK.8. Press the Tab key three times and notice the

insertion point on the ruler now stops at every 1 inch.

NOTE: Many of the predesigned document layout options in Word 2010 make it possible

to create documents such as an index or table of contents without having to set any

tabs manually..

Lesson Summary